He left his feet, so Kronwall should have got two for charging. But other than that nothing wrong with the hit. Kronwall just has to keep his feet on the ice. And I notice Kesler, the gutless little punk that he is, didn’t got after Bertuzzi. He tried to goad Kronwall and Franzen into fights, why not Bertuzzi Kesler? Afraid to mix it up with someone your own size?

Kesler’s officially taken Pronger’s place on my active shit list with the crap he pulled tonight. Reminds me a lot of Mike Ribiero.

Posted by
Alzy
from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada on 12/22/11 at 05:36 AM ET

Kronwall hit him, Franzen is standing over him and Bertuzzi was at the other end of the ice. Does Bert even fight any more? i thought he just took timely hooking penalties these days?

Without a doubt, the hit wasnt legal. Should’ve been a 5 min major and a game misconduct. His intent was not to check Kesler, but to injure. Watch the replay in slow motion and pause just before contact and tell me Kronwall didn’t attempt to take Kesler’s head off. He leaped backwards and just missed his head. Had he succeeded, Kes wouldve been taken off the ice on a stretcher like we witnessed when Rome hit Horton.

@ Alzy, there’s nothing gutless about Kes wanting to fight wimpy Kronwall after that hit. Kronwall wouldnt drop his stick or gloves because he is spineless. Other Chicken wings just flapped their gums. Kes didnt pull any crap. It was Kronwall who made the gutless hit and couldnt back it up when Kes wanted to fight him. Give me some skates and I’ll knock Kronwall out with one hit… just the way he throws em.

Posted by
JAY Z
from Vancouver, Canada on 12/22/11 at 06:24 AM ET

Yes, he left his feet and yes it was dirty. Vancouver then hammers the Wings physically and puts points on the boards and wins. Worth it?

Posted by
Neil McIver
from Detroit on 12/22/11 at 06:36 AM ET

Watch the replay in slow motion and pause just before contact and tell me Kronwall didn’t attempt to take Kesler’s head off.

Kronwall didn’t attempt to take Kesler’s head off.

Boy, that was easy. You honestly think that if Kronwall wanted to injure Kesler, he’d have missed?

Kronwall left his feet. This definitely should have been charging. Shit, if Shanny wants to sit him for a game for being reckless, I wouldn’t complain.

If nothing else, I’m more pissed at Kronwall because he goes a full calendar year without doing anything to give idiots ammunition and now I get to read even more about how he does this ALL THE TIME from fans of teams who have guys who lay questionable hits way more than once every 119 games (which is how many they’ve played between this one and the Teemu Selanne hit from October 2010 people keep bitching about).

You know, the rules never say that a player’s skates have to be on the ice at all times. I know, charging says you can’t jump into the other player. But the intent of that rule, is that you cant launch yourself at the other player, or drive him through the boards or the net or something. His feet come off the ice a little just before contact, but he doesnt really drive through him. And, he is clearly trying to not hit him with his shoulder or elbow or helmet. I think if his feet are planted on the ice, that might have been a more violent hit.
If the hit was more with the shoulder, then with the middle of his back, then it would be more deserving of a charging penalty.

Posted by
jwad
on 12/22/11 at 08:31 AM ET

His intent was not to check Kesler, but to injure. Watch the replay in slow motion and pause just before contact and tell me Kronwall didn’t attempt to take Kesler’s head off.

But I do think that’s all it should’ve been. Heck, a fine wouldn’t upset me.

But this isn’t a dirty play. The fact that Kronwall turns and uses his rear to make the hit actually shows some intent to minimize the danger of the hit—he’s turning and taking his arms/elbows/stick out of the collision, which decreases the risk of hitting Kesler’s head significantly.

I didn’t realize you had to immediately fight someone just because you throw body checks. Hitting is an allowed part of the game. And while fighting is also allowed, you by and large have to hit to play in the NHL, whereas most guys that fight regularly are barely fringe players. Kesler might have a lot more fighting majors than Kronwall, but he’s not exactly Tie Domi. So, you know, glass houses and all that.

And for what it is worth, I said it in the other thread about Kesler’s trip on Z, I don’t think Kesler’s play was dirty either. I think he definitely meant to trip him, and should’ve gotten and interference/tripping penalty, but I don’t think he meant to hit his knee. He only got his shin out there, it wasn’t like he came in straight on Z and throttled his whole leg into Z’s knee like Marchment or Samulesson used to do.

Both players deserved two minutes and I honestly think it should be left there. This is much ado about almost nothing.

We all understand fighting is a part of the game, but it is not a required part. Fact of the matter is, I think you are in the minority thinking this hit was dirty. Almost everyone, Wings fans included, agree it should’ve been a penalty since Kronwall left his feet, and further I think we agree that Kronwall needs to make a more conscious effort to stay on the ice when he makes these big hits. But as has been pointed out, Kronwall specifically turned his rear into the hit to eliminate the possibility of an arm/elbow/stick getting up and hitting Kesler’s head.

Mickey Redmond says it all the time, and I agree with him—why is it that nowadays you can’t seem to throw a good hard hit without having to “answer the bell?” Hitting is a part of the game, and sometimes you rock someone, and sometimes they will get you. You deal with it.

While I don’t think Kesler’s trip on Zetterberg was dirty, there is just as much rationality to say that it is dirty as there is for Kronwall’s hit. That being said, what I saw after that play was Kesler peel off to the bench and the Wings continued to play hockey rather than try to jump him.

This is almost the exact same situation as the Engelland hit the other night. Engelland/Kronwall didn’t get a penalty…and the Penguins/Red Wings ended up with a powerplay. Why was it a breach of justice on Tuesday…but okay here? Come on.

He jumped…to throw his entire body into Kesler’s head. I don’t know how you can say the head wasn’t the intended point of contact when the guy leaves his feet to make the hit. Doesn’t make any sense to me.

Man, you are so wrong on this one. If Kronwall wanted to blast Kesler in the head, he flat-out would have. Comparing this to the Engelland hit, the only thing they have in common is the coming off the ice part.

I wouldn’t be dismayed if Kronwall got one game, but this hit isn’t close to what Engelland does.

That’s his style and forwards coming down the right wing lane are becoming aware of Kronwall’s presence.

If you’ve ever attempted to line up one of those open-ice hits, you’d understand the small vertical aerial as a result of the difficult timing. This result is similar to that of PK Suban’s open-icer on Brad Marchand last season.

Clean hit. I feel like Hawks and Wings fans unite under their disdain for the Canucks after last night.

This is almost the exact same situation as the Engelland hit the other night. Engelland/Kronwall didn’t get a penalty…and the Penguins/Red Wings ended up with a powerplay. Why was it a breach of justice on Tuesday…but okay here? Come on.

Again, since you can’t read or ‘answer the bell’ in the thread from yesterday, when has Kronwall leaped into someone AGAINST THE BOARDS?

Posted by
mrfluffy
from A wide spot on I-90 in Montana on 12/22/11 at 02:01 PM ET

Kronwall will continue to be Kronwall unless he gets the message to stop doing this. Best message would be from his coaching staff or teammates but of course that won’t happen.

Based on what I’m hearing, Kronwall’s style of hitting is legal and fair game. OK, game on then! Watch the next game between VAN and DET. Bieksa or Edler will crush Datsyuk when he turns along the boards with the puck. Then we’ll read all the whinning and sniffling that it wasn’t legal. Can’t wait for the playoffs to start, so VAN can take down the Hawks and Wings!!!

Based on what I’m hearing, Kronwall’s style of hitting is legal and fair game. OK, game on then! Watch the next game between VAN and DET. Bieksa or Edler will crush Datsyuk when he turns along the boards with the puck. Then we’ll read all the whinning and sniffling that it wasn’t legal. Can’t wait for the playoffs to start, so VAN can take down the Hawks and Wings!!!

Posted by JAY Z from Vancouver, Canada on 12/22/11 at 06:09 PM ET

If Datsyuk gets crushed along the boards with a legal hit, the vast majority of Detroit fans would so, Pavel, you have to keep your head up.

First of all, I have a problem calling you that. Change your post name, dude.

Second. It’s always been game on. Even your beloved Canucks are aware of the rules, that’s why they’re constantly embellishing. There’s a long list of guys that have tried to smoke Datsyuk and usually do more harm to themselves or their team. He welcomes it. So yes, we are looking forward to Vanny shitting the bed, as they usually do come playoff time.